Two teens charged in string of vehicle burglaries

Friday

Jul 26, 2013 at 12:30 PM

A 19-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy who police say targeted unlocked vehicles in a southwest Ocala subdivision were arrested Thursday.

By Austin L. MillerStaff writer

A 19-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy who police said targeted unlocked vehicles in a southwest Ocala subdivision were arrested Thursday on multiple counts of burglary and grand theft.Early Wednesday, the Ocala Police Department had been contacted by seven people in the Fore Ranch subdivision who reported that their vehicles had been broken into. Among the items reported stolen were credit cards, a Bible and electronic devices.Officers began conducting security checks in the subdivision and at 1:09 am Thursday, Officer Kyle Howie saw three men walking, each carrying a backpack. He stopped the trio and called for backup, then asked them to sit on the sidewalk.Officers Jimmy Pitman and Don Snow arrived and searched the men and the backpacks. They found various items, such as a mini crowbar, garden gloves and a paint can opener.Police said one of the men, William Tanner McLaughlin, 19, had a small amount of marijuana. McLaughlin ran, but was apprehended by Howie in the 4700 block of Southwest 42nd Street.The three suspects were taken to the police department, where they were questioned by Detective Mike Hilton. McLaughlin and the 16-year-old both told the detective they were in the area to break into unlocked vehicles and said they had entered a number of them in Fore Ranch with another person, who was not the man with them on Thursday morning, according to the arrest report.The teen told Hilton he stole other people's items because he wanted to purchase things for himself. Detectives Jimmy Deas and Melissa Buetti joined the investigation and, at the home of the minor, recovered numerous items stolen from the break-ins, according to a police report.The detectives determined that the person McLaughlin and the juvenile claimed was with them at the time of the burglaries was out of the state. The person who was with them at the time of their arrest was released after it was determined he was not connected with the burglaries, according to the report.The teen was charged with seven counts of burglary of a conveyance, three counts of grand theft and two counts of petit theft.McLaughlin's charges include possession of burglary tools, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, seven counts of burglary of a conveyance, three counts of grand theft and two counts of petit theft.Police urge people to not leave any valuables displayed in the open areas of their vehicles and to lock the doors, even if the vehicle is in their own driveway.Contact Austin L. Miller at 867-4118 or austin.miller@starbanner.com.